__NOTOC__
''Cucumis'' is a genus of
twining,
tendril
In botany, a tendril is a specialized stem, leaf or petiole with a threadlike shape used by climbing plants for support and attachment, as well as cellular invasion by parasitic plants such as ''Cuscuta''. There are many plants that have tendr ...
-bearing plants in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Cucurbitaceae
The Cucurbitaceae, also called cucurbits or the gourd family, are a plant family consisting of about 965 species in around 95 genera, of which the most important to humans are:
*''Cucurbita'' – squash, pumpkin, zucchini, some gourds
*''Lagena ...
which includes the
cucumber
Cucumber (''Cucumis sativus'') is a widely-cultivated Vine#Horticultural climbing plants, creeping vine plant in the Cucurbitaceae family that bears usually cylindrical Fruit, fruits, which are used as culinary vegetables. (''Cucumis sativus''),
muskmelon
''Cucumis melo'', also known as melon, is a species of ''Cucumis'' that has been developed into many cultivated varieties. The fruit is a pepo. The flesh is either sweet or bland, with or without a musky aroma, and the rind can be smooth (such as ...
s (''Cucumis melo'', including cantaloupe and
honeydew), the horned
melon
A melon is any of various plants of the family Cucurbitaceae with sweet, edible, and fleshy fruit. The word "melon" can refer to either the plant or specifically to the fruit. Botanically, a melon is a kind of berry, specifically a "pepo". The ...
(''
Cucumis metuliferus
''Cucumis metuliferus'', commonly called the African horned cucumber, horned melon, spiked melon, jelly melon, kiwano, or cuke-a-saurus is an annual vine in the cucumber and melon family, ''Cucurbitaceae''. Its fruit has horn (anatomy), horn-li ...
''), and the West Indian gherkin (''
Cucumis anguria
''Cucumis anguria'', commonly known as maroon cucumber, West Indian gherkin, maxixe, burr gherkin, cackrey, and West Indian gourd, is a vine that is indigenous to Africa, but has become naturalized in the New World, and is cultivated in many pla ...
'').
30 species occur in
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
, and 25 occur in
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
,
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, south-eastern region of Asia, consistin ...
, and
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
. However, ''
Cucumis myriocarpus
''Cucumis myriocarpus'', the gooseberry cucumber, gooseberry gourd, paddy melon, Mallee Pear or prickly paddy melon is a prostrate or climbing annual herb native to tropical and southern Africa.Borger, John, "Paddy and Afghan Melons", July 2005 ...
'' was introduced to Australia from
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa is, geographically, the area and regions of the continent of Africa that lies south of the Sahara. These include West Africa, East Africa, Central Africa, and Southern Africa. Geopolitically, in addition to the List of sov ...
, and is regarded as an
invasive species
An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species ad ...
.
Species
,
Plants of the World Online
Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It was launched in March 2017 with the ultimate aim being "to enable users to access information on all the world's known seed-bearing plants by ...
accepted 61 species:
*''
Cucumis aculeatus
__NOTOC__
''Cucumis'' is a genus of twining, tendril-bearing plants in the family Cucurbitaceae which includes the cucumber (''Cucumis sativus''), muskmelons (''Cucumis melo'', including cantaloupe and honeydew), the horned melon (''Cucumis m ...
''
Cogn.
*''
Cucumis aetheocarpus
__NOTOC__
''Cucumis'' is a genus of twining, tendril-bearing plants in the family Cucurbitaceae which includes the cucumber (''Cucumis sativus''), muskmelons (''Cucumis melo'', including cantaloupe and honeydew), the horned melon (''Cucumis m ...
''
(C.Jeffrey) Ghebret. & Thulin
*''
Cucumis africanus
__NOTOC__
''Cucumis'' is a genus of twining, tendril-bearing plants in the family Cucurbitaceae which includes the cucumber (''Cucumis sativus''), muskmelons (''Cucumis melo'', including cantaloupe and honeydew), the horned melon (''Cucumis m ...
''
L.f.
*''
Cucumis althaeoides
''Cucumis althaeoides'' is a vine in the family Cucurbitaceae that is native to parts of Northern Australia.
Description
''Cucumis althaeoides'' is a trailing or climbing perennial vine that is monoecious, and most of its vegetative parts are co ...
''
(Ser.) P.Sebastian & I.Telford
*''
Cucumis anguria
''Cucumis anguria'', commonly known as maroon cucumber, West Indian gherkin, maxixe, burr gherkin, cackrey, and West Indian gourd, is a vine that is indigenous to Africa, but has become naturalized in the New World, and is cultivated in many pla ...
''
L.
*''
Cucumis argenteus
''Cucumis argenteus'' is a vine in the family Cucurbitaceae that is native to Western Australia through parts of the Pilbara and northeastern Goldfields-Esperance regions.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q17429933
argenteus
The ''argenteus'' ...
''
(Domin) P.Sebastian & I.Telford
*''
Cucumis asper''
Cogn.
*''
Cucumis baladensis''
Thulin
*''
Cucumis bryoniifolius''
(Merxm.) Ghebret. & Thulin
*''
Cucumis canoxyi
__NOTOC__
''Cucumis'' is a genus of twining, tendril-bearing plants in the family Cucurbitaceae which includes the cucumber (''Cucumis sativus''), muskmelons (''Cucumis melo'', including cantaloupe and honeydew), the horned melon (''Cucumis ...
''
Thulin & Al-Gifri
*''
Cucumis carolinus''
J.H.Kirkbr.
*''
Cucumis cinereus''
(Cogn.) Ghebret. & Thulin
*''
Cucumis clavipetiolatus''
(J.H.Kirkbr.) Ghebret. & Thulin
*''
Cucumis costatus''
I.Telford
*''
Cucumis debilis''
W.J.de Wilde & Duyfjes
*''
Cucumis dipsaceus''
Ehrenb. ex Spach
*''
Cucumis engleri''
(Gilg) Ghebret. & Thulin
*''
Cucumis ficifolius''
A.Rich.
*''
Cucumis globosus''
C.Jeffrey
*''
Cucumis gracilis''
(Kurz) Ghebret. & Thulin
*''
Cucumis hastatus''
Thulin
*''
Cucumis heptadactylus''
Naudin
*''
Cucumis hirsutus''
Sond.
*''
Cucumis humifructus
''Cucumis humifructus'', the aardvark cucumber or aardvark pumpkin, is a kind of cucumber (family Cucurbitaceae) from southern Africa, tropical Africa, and Madagascar which fruits underground. It is a prostrate vine up to seven meters (22 feet) i ...
''
Stent (as ''Cucumis humofructus'')
*''
Cucumis hystrix''
Chakrav.
*''
Cucumis indicus''
Ghebret. & Thulin
*''
Cucumis insignis''
C.Jeffrey
*''
Cucumis javanicus''
(Miq.) Ghebret. & Thulin
*''
Cucumis jeffreyanus''
Thulin
*''
Cucumis kalahariensis''
A.Meeuse
*''
Cucumis kelleri''
(Cogn.) Ghebret. & Thulin
*''
Cucumis kirkbridei''
Ghebret. & Thulin
*''
Cucumis leiospermus''
(Wight & Arn.) Ghebret. & Thulin
*''
Cucumis maderaspatanus''
L.
*''
Cucumis meeusei''
C.Jeffrey
*''
Cucumis melo''
L.
*''
Cucumis messorius''
(C.Jeffrey) Ghebret. & Thulin
*''
Cucumis metuliferus
''Cucumis metuliferus'', commonly called the African horned cucumber, horned melon, spiked melon, jelly melon, kiwano, or cuke-a-saurus is an annual vine in the cucumber and melon family, ''Cucurbitaceae''. Its fruit has horn (anatomy), horn-li ...
''
E.Mey. ex Naudin
*''
Cucumis myriocarpus
''Cucumis myriocarpus'', the gooseberry cucumber, gooseberry gourd, paddy melon, Mallee Pear or prickly paddy melon is a prostrate or climbing annual herb native to tropical and southern Africa.Borger, John, "Paddy and Afghan Melons", July 2005 ...
''
Naudin
*''
Cucumis omissus''
Thulin
*''
Cucumis picrocarpus''
F.Muell.
*''
Cucumis prophetarum
''Cucumis prophetarum'' is a dioecious and prostrate or climbing perennial vine in the family Cucurbitaceae.
Distribution
''Cucumis prophetarum'' is native to Mauritania east to the Horn of Africa and southwest to Angola, as well as northern ...
''
L.
*''
Cucumis pubituberculatus''
Thulin
*''
Cucumis pustulatus''
Naudin ex Hook.f.
*''
Cucumis queenslandicus''
I.Telford
*''
Cucumis quintanilhae''
R.Fern. & A.Fern.
*''
Cucumis reticulatus''
(A.Fern. & R.Fern.) Ghebret. & Thulin
*''
Cucumis rigidus''
E.Mey. ex Sond.
*''
Cucumis ritchiei''
(C.B.Clarke) Ghebret. & Thulin
*''
Cucumis rostratus''
J.H.Kirkbr.
*''
Cucumis rumphianus''
(Scheff.) H.Schaef.
*''
Cucumis sacleuxii''
Paill. & Bois
*''
Cucumis sagittatus''
Wawra & Peyr.
*''Cucumis sativus''
L.,
cucumber
Cucumber (''Cucumis sativus'') is a widely-cultivated Vine#Horticultural climbing plants, creeping vine plant in the Cucurbitaceae family that bears usually cylindrical Fruit, fruits, which are used as culinary vegetables.
*''
Cucumis setosus''
Cogn.
*''
Cucumis silentvalleyi
__NOTOC__
''Cucumis'' is a genus of vine, twining, tendril-bearing plants in the Family (biology), family Cucurbitaceae which includes the cucumber (''Cucumis sativus''), muskmelons (''Cucumis melo'', including cantaloupe and Honeydew (melon), ...
''
(Manilal, T.Sabu & P.Mathew) Ghebret. & Thulin
*''
Cucumis thulinianus
__NOTOC__
''Cucumis'' is a genus of vine, twining, tendril-bearing plants in the Family (biology), family Cucurbitaceae which includes the cucumber (''Cucumis sativus''), muskmelons (''Cucumis melo'', including cantaloupe and Honeydew (melon), ...
''
J.H.Kirkbr.
*''
Cucumis umbellatus
''Cucumis umbellatus'' is a vine in the family Cucurbitaceae that is native to Western Australia throughout parts of the Kimberley
Kimberly or Kimberley may refer to:
Places and historical events
Australia
* Kimberley (Western Australia)
* ...
''
I.Telford
*''
Cucumis variabilis
''Cucumis variabilis'' is a vine in the family Cucurbitaceae that is native to Western Australia throughout parts of the Kimberley (Western Australia), Kimberley region.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q17429923
Cucumis, variabilis
Plants des ...
''
P.Sebastian & I.Telford
*''
Cucumis zambianus
__NOTOC__
''Cucumis'' is a genus of vine, twining, tendril-bearing plants in the Family (biology), family Cucurbitaceae which includes the cucumber (''Cucumis sativus''), muskmelons (''Cucumis melo'', including cantaloupe and Honeydew (melon), ...
''
Widrl., J.H.Kirkbr., Ghebret. & K.R.Reitsma
*''
Cucumis zeyheri
__NOTOC__
''Cucumis'' is a genus of vine, twining, tendril-bearing plants in the Family (biology), family Cucurbitaceae which includes the cucumber (''Cucumis sativus''), muskmelons (''Cucumis melo'', including cantaloupe and Honeydew (melon), ...
''
Sond.
See also
*
Bailan melon
The Bailan melon is a locally famous melon grown near Lanzhou, the capital city of Gansu province in the People's Republic of China.
It is a variety of honeydew melon, globose to subglobose and typically has white skin with sweet, white or pale g ...
*
Galia melon
The Galia melon, also known as sarda in Southeast Asia, is a type of F1 hybrid melon originating from a cross between the green-flesh melon cultivar 'Ha-Ogen' and the netted-rind melon cultivar 'Krimka'. Developed in Israel at the Ne´ve Yaar Re ...
*
Gaya melon
*
Hami melon
Lead
Hami melon is a kind of melon produced in Hami, Xinjiang. It is well known for its sweet taste and long-standing history.
The Hami melon (; pinyin: Hāmì guā) is a type of muskmelon, originally from Hami, Xinjiang, China.
The origin of ...
*
Korean melon
The oriental melon (''Cucumis melo'' Makuwa Group), is a group of ''Cucumis melo'' cultivars that is cultivated in East Asia. Phylogenetic studies tracing the genetic lineage of the plant suggest that it may have originated in eastern India, havi ...
*
Santa Claus melon
*
Sugar melon
A sugar melon is a type of cantaloupe that is about in diameter
In geometry, a diameter of a circle is any straight line segment that passes through the center of the circle and whose endpoints lie on the circle. It can also be defined as th ...
*
Winter melon
References
Further reading
* Ghebretinsae, A. G., Thulin, M. & Barber, J. C. (2007). Relationships of cucumbers and melons unraveled: molecular phylogenetics of ''Cucumis'' and related genera (Benincaseae, Cucurbitaceae). ''American Journal of Botany'' 94(7): 1256–1266.
*
* Sebastian, P. M., H. Schaefer, I. R. H. Telford, and S. S. Renner. 2010. Cucumber and melon have their wild progenitors in India, and the sister species of Cucumis melo is from Australia" ''Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences'' 107(32) 14269–1427
(online)* Telford, I. R. H., P. M. Sebastian, J. J. Bruhl, and S. S. Renner. 2011. Cucumis (Cucurbitaceae) in Australia and eastern Malesia, including newly recognized species and the sister species to C. melo. Systematic Botany 36(2): 376-38
(online)*
External links
{{Taxonbar, from=Q148758
Cucurbitaceae genera